Updated Covid Boosters Now Available — “Effective immediately, eligible residents of Virginia are able to schedule appointments with their healthcare providers to receive the new, free COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccinations, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.” The Fairfax County Health Department and Giant Food’s pharmacies have confirmed the boosters’ availability. [VDH]
It’s Flu Shot Time Too — “Flu season is approaching in Virginia, and health experts are urging everyone over 6 months, with rare exceptions, to get their flu shots. Walgreens, CVS, Giant and other pharmacies in Virginia are already scheduling appointments or offering shots on a walk-in basis as health officials worry about what a worse-than-usual flu season in the Southern Hemisphere portends for the United States.” [Patch]
Should Local Juvenile Detention Centers Consolidate? — “The number of young people detained in Virginia’s juvenile justice system has gone down dramatically over the last few years, which is leading to a potential reorganization of the system…Senator Dave Marsden is a Democrat from Fairfax County who is leading the effort to examine the possibility of consolidating some of the centers.” [WVTF]
Black Bear Spotted in McLean — “A black bear was spotted rummaging for food in a trash bin Sunday afternoon at a home near McLean Hamlet Park. The McLean resident contacted Fairfax County Police, who put the resident in touch with animal control.” [Patch]
Springfield Industrial Park Seeks Tenants — “All of [Schaeffer Industrial Park’s] nearly 10 usable acres, comprising about 42,000 square feet across five warehouse or flex buildings, recently hit the leasing market…Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing arm of Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), bought two commercial office lots totaling 24 acres immediately to Schaeffer’s south last year for $28 million.” [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Man Wins $1M Lottery Prize — “Jose Flores Velasquez of Annandale was happy with winning $600 when he went to redeem his lottery ticket at the Virginia Lottery center in Woodbridge. But it turns out the ticket was worth a lot more: $1 million.” [Patch]
Scottish Play Marches on Fairfax City — “The City of Fairfax Theatre Company will be presenting William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ at the Veteran’s Amphitheater in Fairfax, Virginia beginning September 9, 2022…The title character will be played by Jef Chi who is extremely honored to be joining the CFTC cast of ‘Macbeth.'” [Maryland Theatre Guide]
Neighborhood Around Fair Lakes Shopping Center Grows — “Fair Lakes, a development west of Fairfax, Va., is like a little city. Places to live, eat and shop are within a minute’s drive — if not a minute’s walk — away. And if people are unable to find something to enjoy right in the community, residents say, other opportunities aren’t far.” [The Washington Post]
Happy National Teddy Bear Day — “Bring your teddy bear or other plush friend to learn how bears became many children’s first best friend. Have your bear or buddy join you on a teddy bear picnic in Nature Playce and make a bear craft. Children must be accompanied by an adult.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Thursday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 78 and low of 67. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 7:30 pm. [Weather.gov]
There’s no gift like one made by hand.
That sentiment inspired Fairfax County Public Library’s new “Knitting for Charity” initiative, a pilot project launching next week that encourages community members to craft winter hats for those who will need warm clothes as temperatures drop.
“We were thinking about some type of community-driven project, and [my programming assistant] felt that this was taking giving to the next level, because we are asking people to spend time creating something that other people will use,” FCPL Program and Educational Services Director Renee Edwards said.
Starting on Monday (Sept. 12), the City of Fairfax, Chantilly, Tysons-Pimmit, Patrick Henry and John Marshall libraries will have a limited supply of yarn available for pick-up. The bags will also contain a sewing label and instructions.
However, anyone with yarn can participate. The yarn must be new, washable, and made out of wool/wool-blend or 100% acrylic, according to the FCPL website, which says to specifically avoid angora or mohair yarn since people may be allergic.
This weekend, Vienna will celebrate a longtime resident the way she would’ve wanted: with a party for a good cause.
The Rotary Club of Vienna will stage its inaugural JeanFest22 Charity Benefit Concert at the Town Green and Jammin’ Java on Saturday (Sept. 10) in honor of Jean Buttecali, a local business owner and frequent volunteer who died suddenly from an unknown heart issue in summer 2020.
Conceived by Buttecali’s husband of over 30 years, Pete, the concert will supplement the ViVa Vienna festival that the rotary club organizes every Memorial Day weekend as a fundraiser. All proceeds will be added to those funds for donation to community groups and charitable causes.
“She had a huge heart, big smile, and also really did a lot of stuff behind the scenes philanthropically with different organizations,” JeanFest22 Chair A.J. Oskuie said “…When we lost her, we wanted to celebrate her in some way, and this was the best way to sort of commemorate her memory and also have a good time. She would want to do the same thing.”
In a video about JeanFest, Pete Buttecali calls his wife’s death a “devastating” tragedy in a year already made challenging by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to their marriage and two children, the couple shared ownership of Woodpile Studios, a design firm noted for creating the logo for the 2005 Grammy Awards.
Fairfax County has issued a call for innovators to pitch solutions that work toward carbon neutrality and clean energy.
“Pitch and Pilot,” a county-led innovation challenge, aims to find and pilot new projects that improve energy efficiency, increase renewable electricity use, and encourage the use of electric vehicles.
Construction has begun on a substantial renovation of Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean.
Barricades, signage and other equipment started emerging at the Safeway-anchored retail strip in mid-August, reader Mike Whatley told FFXnow.
An overhaul of Chesterbrook has been anticipated since longtime property manager Federal Realty Investment Trust took ownership of the 90,000-square-foot property at 6214 and 6246 Old Dominion Drive in May 2021, calling the site “well-positioned for future growth.”
Federal Realty confirmed to the Washington Business Journal last week that construction is underway on a $8.5 million “facelift” for the shopping center, which was originally built in 1967, according to Fairfax County property records.
Deer Archery Program Starts Saturday — Fairfax County’s Deer Management Archery Program begins Saturday (Sept. 10). and runs through Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Part of a larger effort to “reduce and stabilize” the county’s white-tailed deer population, the program is overseen by the Fairfax County Police Department and takes place in parks and other locations throughout the county. [FCPD]
Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud in N. Va. — “A Northern Virginia contractor has pleaded guilty to taking down-payments for patio and deck projects that were never built in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Fauquier counties, and will also soon stand trial in Stafford County…Ryan Vanover, 40, of Haymarket, pleaded guilty Tuesday to contractor fraud in Fairfax County Circuit Court, as part of a proposed plea agreement.” [WTOP]
Herndon Restaurant Delivers on All-You-Can-Eat Promise — “Getting up and serving yourself? That’s for peasants. Thalis are large platters (it’s actually the Hindi word for plate), filled with many small dishes…Jodhpur, located in the Herndon strip mall next to the town’s H Mart, is our region’s only restaurant that serves nothing but bottomless thalis.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
ArtsFairfax Doles Out Grants — “ArtsFairfax, the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency, today announces over $400,000 in Operating Support Grants to 44 nonprofit arts and culture organizations based in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.” [ArtsFairfax]
Donors Still Needed for McLean Blood Drive — “Last call for the American Red Cross Blood Drive at the McLean Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 8! The Heart of Gold Foundation will be on site collecting donations. It’s urgent for donors of all ethnicities to support patients in need!” [McLean Community Center/Twitter]
Chantilly Students Invent Walker to Help Those With Parkinson’s — “Two Fairfax County students are aiming to treat Parkinson’s symptoms with a one-of-a-kind product they created over the last two years. Kaavya Karthikeyan and Akanksha Tibrewala are childhood best friends, neighbors, and classmates at Chantilly High School.” [ABC7]
Ribbon Cut on New Vienna Police HQ — “Vienna officials made it official on Sept. 2, holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the town’s new $14 million police headquarters, located at 215 Center St., S. Although officers won’t move in for another few weeks, the air at the event was one of celebration.” [Sun Gazette]
Vienna Cottage Houses Go on Sale — “J.D.A. Custom Homes is now accepting buyer appointments for Courthouse Cottages, Vienna’s new cottage housing community…This community of 12 duplex style cottages also includes a shared clubhouse and large outdoor common area…Estimated delivery is Spring 2023. Pricing will begin in the mid $1.2 mil range.” [Vienna Business Association]
It’s Wednesday — Overcast throughout the day. High of 76 and low of 69. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 7:31 pm. [Weather.gov]
Most booster shots against COVID-19 were put on hold over Labor Day weekend, as Fairfax County prepares for newly authorized vaccines designed to target omicron variants of the coronavirus.
Appointments for the updated boosters are expected to be available through the county’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) by tomorrow (Wednesday), the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed to FFXnow.
Known as bivalent vaccines, the new shots from Pfizer and Moderna contain the original strain of COVID-19 as well as a component that can be found in the two most dominant omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which authorized the vaccines on Aug. 31.
As a result, the updated boosters will “provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant,” the FDA said.
However, as part of the new authorization, the emergency use authorizations for the existing Pfizer and Moderna boosters were suspended on Friday (Sept. 2). Both vaccines can still be used for the primary two-dose regimen, and the Pfizer vaccine can be used as a booster for kids aged 5 through 11.
For people 12 and older, though, the county health department ceased administering booster doses at its offices and clinic sites on Friday.
“We had a handful of booster appointments set for the past weekend and our Call Center team contacted these individuals to let them know that they could re-schedule appointments when the bivalent boosters arrived,” FCHD spokesperson Lucy Caldwell said.
The health department has ordered 12,900 Pfizer bivalent vaccines and 8,100 Moderna shots and “plans to begin vaccinating this week,” according to Caldwell.
Pfizer’s vaccine has been authorized for people aged 12 and older, and Moderna’s is for adults 18 and up. Eligibility for the doses begins at least two months after getting the primary vaccinations or the most recent booster.
Appointments for the updated boosters won’t be required, but they are recommended, given the limited initial supply. Shots will eventually become available at private medical offices, pharmacies and other locations in the community.
“We thank everyone for their patience,” Caldwell said.
The FDA also issued an emergency use authorization last week allowing adolescents aged 12 to 17 to get the Novavax Covid vaccine, which became available to adults last month. Regardless of age, everyone is still required to make an appointment to get that vaccine, since supplies are limited.
Del. Mark Keam (D-35) has stepped down from his seat in the Virginia General Assembly after representing Tysons, Vienna, and Oakton for over a decade.
In an email message to supporters, Keam announced this morning (Tuesday) that he has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert in order to work in President Joe Biden’s administration.
“While I have loved every moment of the past thirteen years as your state legislator, I have decided to continue my public service in another capacity,” Keam said in the message. “…Returning to federal service will require me to work full time, all year long, which is why I submitted my resignation to the Speaker of the House who will soon call a special election to fill the vacancy until my term expires in January 2024.”
Keam didn’t specify what his new role in the Biden administration will be, though his career has included past legal work for the federal government. He didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from FFXnow.
Though the special election hasn’t been scheduled yet, contenders for the now-vacant 35th District seat are already stepping up.
Karl Frisch, who represents Providence District on the Fairfax County School Board, announced his candidacy this morning, positioning himself as “a progressive fighter” who will oppose Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda.
“We need someone who will stand up to Governor Youngkin and the far-right — someone who will work every day to protect our world-class public schools, defend reproductive freedom, build an economy that works for everyone, prevent gun violence, heal our planet, and preserve our democracy,” Frisch said.
The cross atop the former Faith Baptist Church in Vienna will come down, but otherwise, the town has opted for a “wait and see” approach to the 3-acre property it purchased in 2020.
The Vienna Town Council unanimously voted on Aug. 29 to indefinitely postpone repairs to the roof of the aging building at 301 Center Street South.
While staff argued that improvements are needed to stop recurring water leaks, council members balked at the idea of investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into a building that they could ultimately decide to demolish.
“I would like to do the absolute minimum, even if that does cause some further damage to the building, rather than commit a lot of money,” Councilmember Chuck Anderson said. “If you spend a half million dollars on a roof, psychologically, you’re committed to that building, and I personally have not reached the conclusion that the best use for that property involves some sort of rehabilitation and repurposing of the existing structure.”
Built in 1956, per Fairfax County property records, the former church — now informally dubbed the Annex — will require substantial renovations to meet current building code standards and get approved for occupancy, a study by Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP found.
I-495 Ramp to Close Tonight in McLean — “On or about Tuesday night, September 6, the ramp from southbound I-495 toward Tysons to eastbound George Washington Memorial Parkway is scheduled to be closed from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. the next morning. Crews will be conducting maintenance work on a stormwater management drain.” [VDOT]
Unattended Grill Causes West Springfield Fire — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched for a house fire in the 6700 block of Portree Court at 6:40 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 3). Investigators determined that the fire, which was quickly extinguished at the one-story house, was started accidentally due to an unattended, lit grill. No one was displaced or injured, but the fire caused approximately $30,500 in damages. [FCFRD]
Virginia Tech Student From Fairfax Dies in Vehicle Crash — “John Wallace Thomasson, a 20-year-old Fairfax native, died in a traffic crash shortly after midnight on Sept. 2 in Blacksburg, Va., according to a news release from the town. Thomasson was a pedestrian along the 2200 block of S. Main St. when a vehicle struck him.” [The Washington Post]
Governor and FCPS Clash Over Education Policies — Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston fears eased requirements for teachers that Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday (Sept. 1) “will allow unqualified individuals to teach children.” Teachers and parents have also rebutted Youngkin’s criticism of Fairfax County Public Schools for letting transgender students use names, pronouns and facilities aligned with their identity without parental permission. [The Washington Post]
Descano Takes Issue With “Ghost Gun” Loophole — “Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano recently prosecuted a murder case that resulted in a guilty verdict, but he said more resources are necessary to fight gun violence…One of those loopholes pertains to weapons that are untraceable because their serial numbers have been removed or altered.” [WTOP]
Tysons Nordstrom Rack Robbed — “8/30/22, 5:26 p.m. A 37-year-old Centreville man took merchandise without paying. When confronted by a store employee, the man implied he had a weapon and ran away. Officers found the man nearby and arrested him for robbery and preventing a law enforcement officer from making an arrest. No injuries were reported.” [FCPD]
FCPD Announces New Public Affairs Director — “Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Hayek as Director of FCPD’s Public Affairs Bureau, effective immediately. In this role, Hayek will work with Chief Davis to develop and implement an overall communications strategy and direct efforts to expand and amplify the FCPD’s standing as a premier police department in the nation.” [FCPD]
Hybla Valley Bicycle Club Connects With Kids — “Hybla Valley Community Center’s Hybla Valley Bike Club recently concluded its phase one and is being marked as an immense success…The summer program ended with 24 participants aged 8 through 17. Bike club members not only rode bikes but learned how to build and repair them.” [Fairfax County Times]
Park Authority Releases Survey on Summer Programming — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking feedback from those who attended its summer concerts and movies at local parks.” The deadline to complete the survey is Sept. 18.” [FCPA]
It’s Tuesday — Rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 79 and low of 71. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 7:33 pm. [Weather.gov]
